The lads obeyed with alacrity.
“Do you see the Pennsylvania Dutchman over there on the other side?” whispered Sam.
“Yes.”
“Well you watch Pennsy. I’m going to pluck that rooster’s tail feathers, or my name isn’t Sam Hickey.”
“Be careful that you do not do anything that will bring a reproof. You will get a mark against you, if you do.”
“Don’t you worry. The marks will be on Blinkers, not on me.”
“Attention!”
The boys straightened. There was a grin on the face of Sam Hickey, and had one been an observer, he would have noticed another on the face of Louis Flink.
“Right foot, hop!”
Fifty apprentices began hopping across the floor, some losing their balance and measuring their length upon the drill floor at the first jump.